Chapter Forty-Four: Friends Who Support Each Other!

"My good friend, as you know, since I have traveled far away for my studies, I am inevitably facing some difficulties," Austin said with a meaningful smile.

*Gua!* Here it comes.

"Gua! Whatever difficulties you have, I will certainly do my utmost to help you," Mugi replied with great tact.

"Oh, I really couldn't bear to trouble you..." Austin feigned hesitation.

*Gua! ! !*

You squinty-eyed bastard, who the hell are you putting on an act for!

You just want hush money, plain and simple!

"Gua, whatever troubles you have, spell them out and let me hear them," Mugi said with a serious expression, looking at Austin's Academy Award-winning performance.

"Sigh~ Right now, I happen to lack a breathing technique capable of increasing my EVE particle capacity. Although the Deer Academy will be teaching standard breathing techniques uniformly in a bit, studying abroad requires learning something a bit more advanced, right? Otherwise, my peers from the same lineage will laugh at me for not making it out there." Austin let out a sigh and then hinted pointedly at Mugi.

*Gua!* Understood—one breathing technique.

"Gua, I think what you're saying makes sense," Mugi chimed in.

"Gua, as friends, helping each other is only right. What do you need? Let me see if I can assist you," Mugi continued his inquiry.

"Well, I currently need a breathing technique called *The Wheel of Heavenly Locks*, but I have no idea where it is. I heard that [Dimensional Express] handles quite a few matters, so they should know where this breathing technique is, right?" Austin stated his demand.

"Gua~ Please give me three—no, two days. I will definitely give you an answer," Mugi replied earnestly.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, my friend," Austin smiled happily.

After finishing their friendly negotiations with Mugi, Austin turned his gaze to Lifnel, who was sitting straight and proper. Sensing Austin's gaze, Lifnel couldn't help but tremble inwardly.

"Classmate Lifnel, we must get along well in the future," Austin said with a squinted smile.

A ghost from [Wraith Street], huh? I recall a few ladies over at the haunted house who particularly fancy delicate, submissive-looking handsome ghosts. They are all top-tier super-rich patrons, and they are extremely generous with their money.

For reasons unknown, a sudden wave of inexplicable panic surged through Lifnel's heart.

"Well, it's getting late today. Everyone should head back and we'll gather again tomorrow." Austin stood up, flashed a wave to the two of them, walked over to old man Philip to pick up the packaged pastries, whispered a few words to the old man, and then left the café.

"......"

"......"

Is this guy a demon?!

Both Mugi and Lifnel read the exact same thought in each other's eyes. After sitting in silence for a moment, the two companions in misery stood up and prepared to settle the bill and leave.

When paying, Mugi glanced at the bill and noticed something was wrong.

"Gua! Boss, why is it so expensive? I only ordered a single drink!" Mugi demanded angrily of the owner.

"M-Me too," Lifnel stared at the numbers on his bill, questioning old man Philip with dissatisfaction.

The old man, while wiping down a glass, calmly addressed the frog and the ghost:

"The kid who just left said to split the bill evenly between the two of you."

"......"

"......"

Damn it! Son of a bitch!

Deep down inside, Mugi and Lifnel unleashed a torrent of furious curses at the hateful blonde punk.

In the end, the frog and the ghost still had to foot Austin's bill. As soon as they finished paying, old man Philip brought out the animal-shaped pastries he had just baked and placed them in front of them.

"Care for some? They're very delicious."

The animal-shaped pastries baked by old man Philip were shaped like rows of golden-haired dogs with crispy, golden crusts. The fluffy pastry rendered the golden retrievers with their signature sunny smiles.

Why does this dog's smile look so damn familiar?!

"Gua! Pack me a portion," Mugi requested from the boss.

"I-I'll take a portion too," Lifnel chimed in.

"Very well." Old man Philip swiftly and efficiently packaged the dog pastries and handed them over to the frog and the ghost.

"Thank you, please come again!"

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Terra Calendar 1589.3.5

Today was a rest day at the Deer Academy. The academy typically operated on a six-days-on, one-day-off schedule, and today happened to be the designated day of rest.

Raindrops were still pattering against the barrier of Three Portland, pattering ceaselessly against the ground. Passersby either opened umbrellas, activated personal energy shields, or walked bare-chested through the rain down the avenue just like Orcs.

Oh, strike that last option, because community safety officers were currently detaining them for violating urban aesthetics and public decency.

Deer Academy.

Beneath the ponderosa pine at the fork between Anderson Dormitory and Blackwood Dormitory.

"Yoh-ho-ho-ho~"

Austin was whistling a cheerful tune, the rhythm of which sounded exceptionally lighthearted.

"Hugh, sorry I'm late!" Holding a bright yellow umbrella, Camille jogged over from the direction of Blackwood Dormitory.

Camille was still wearing her Deer Academy uniform, and her hairstyle was just as it had been before.

Her hair was tied into a single braid that cascaded over her right shoulder. The large glasses that used to cover most of her face had been replaced with smaller, circular frames that just barely highlighted her intellectual charm.

At this moment, Camille exuded an intellectual beauty, which, combined with her generous endowments, made her appear very mature and voluptuous.

"Didn't wait long," Austin said indifferently.

"Is that so? That's good," Camille smiled softly.

"Let's go. We're heading to the observatory to pick up our club members. The club application has already been submitted and approved by the student union, and the activity room has been arranged as well. Take advantage of today—I'll take you to check out the activity room." Camille naturally sidled up to Austin, her umbrella deftly encompassing them both in a shared circle of shelter.

"Mm. By the way, how come Usass isn't with you?" Austin walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Camille toward the observatory.

"Oh, she went on ahead to the café." Camille briefly recalled the good friend she had chased off in advance, then replied in a natural tone.

"So enthusiastic, huh?"

"Yeah, she's been very much looking forward to club activities."

"Looks like we'll have to give her more chores in the future."

"She'll probably be quite happy about that. Oh, by the way, I heard you whistling just now. That tune sounded quite nice, does it have a name?"

"Oh, that's a memory from my childhood. The melody is called *Bink's Sake*."

The two of them walked step by step toward the Three Portland Observatory.

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Observatory.

[This is Not a F***ing Starbuck's Café!]

Inside the café, occupying the exact same seats as yesterday.

"Achoo~ I feel like someone is talking trash about me," Usass said, rubbing her nose with a weak, lifeless tone.

Flanking the three-eyed girl Usass on either side were Mugi and Lifnel. While Usass had been forced to arrive early, the other two had hurried over in advance upon receiving the notification message.